Pocket ski seat

ABSTRACT

A pocket ski seat for suspension between poles is formed of a strap that is folded over at the ends and stitched at the sides to form pockets for the ends of the poles. The strap is approximately 4 inches wide, being sufficiently strong to withstand concentrated loading against the pole ends and sufficiently stiff laterally to prevent gathering when loaded by a seated user.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to portable seats, and moreparticularly seats of the type that are suspended from upstanding polessuch as ski poles.

[0002] Portable seats for skiers are known, being disclosed, for examplein U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,874,687 and 4,065,140 to Cadwalader, 3,902,731 toFagen, and 4,456,284 to Saka. Most of these are impractical principallyfor considerable complexity and consequent fabrication costs. The devicedisclosed in the Cadwalader '140 patent, while not particularly complex,does require specialized equipment and rather complex set-up proceduresfor manufacture. Instead of being an assembly of straps, buckles, andpocket members, the Cadwalader '140 device is a woven tubular memberwherein the tubular configuration is interrupted at spaced intervals,having woven-in slits for receiving the ends of ski poles, and woven-inclosures for defining the ends of pockets that are engaged by the poles.The dimensions of the finished article are defined by programming of aloom that produces a series of the articles, which are subsequentlysevered, the severed ends being heat-sealed to prevent unraveling. ThisCadwalader device exhibits additional disadvantages, in that it isparticularly weak at points of engagement with the ends of the poles, inthat one wall only of the tubular structure resists puncturing by theends of the poles. When the device is of sufficiently heavy constructionto resist such puncture, it then becomes excessively heavy andcumbersome in that the same density is present in both walls of thetubular structure for the full length of the article. Further, thecentral portion of the device is subject to lateral gathering under theload of a seated occupant as a result of the tubular construction, withconsequent discomfort to the occupant.

[0003] Thus there is a need for a portable seat for suspension betweenpoles, that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present invention meets this need by providing a strap-typeseat for supporting a user between a pair of upstanding poles such asski poles. The seat is particularly strong, yet is light in weight, easyto manufacture, and is not subject to gathering under load. In oneaspect of the invention, the seat includes elongate strap member havingopposite end portions folded into facing relation to respective adjacentportions of the strap member; respective laterally spaced pairs of sideseams fixedly joining side extremity regions of the end portions tocorresponding side extremity regions of the adjacent portions of thestrap member to form respective pocket cavities for receiving respectiveends of the poles. Each pocket cavity has a pattern width of at least2.5 inches between its side seams and a pattern pocket length of atleast 1.25 times the pattern width from the inside of its fold to distalextremities of the corresponding side seams in a flattened condition ofthe seat. The pocket cavities are thus configured for receiving endportions of the pole members when the pole members have outsidecircumferences of up to approximately 4.75 inches, the seat beingsupported by axial compressive loading of the poles when the ski seat istensioned by supporting the user. The overall length of the seat isbetween approximately 40 inches and approximately 70 inches forsupporting a normal size range of users on poles of appropriate lengthfor use as ski poles. Preferably the strap member has an overall widthof not less than 3 inches in the flattened condition for enhancedcomfort of the user. The strap member can be of uniform width forvacilitating manufacture thereof. The uniform overall width of the strapmember preferably approximately 4 inches for further enhancing theuser's comfort, and the pocket widths are not less than approximately2.75 inches for accommodating larger diameter poles which may haveattached wrist straps.

[0005] Preferably the strap member is formed of a woven material forproviding a desired combination of lateral stiffness and longitudinalflexibility. The woven material is preferably woven in a manner thatdefines the uniform width of the strap member for resistance tounraveling. The woven material includes at least one material selectedfrom the group consisting of NYLON, RAYON, and polyester.

[0006] The side seams can include stitching. The side seams arepreferably reinforced in the regions farthest from the folds that definebottoms of the pocket cavities, that region being subjected to moreconcentrated loading in use of the seat. When the side seams includestitching the reinforcing can include multiple folded segments of thestitching. Also, or in the alternative, the reinforcing can include aninstalled rivet projecting through both layers of the strap member inthe region of each seam farthest from the fold.

[0007] Preferably the pattern pocket lengths are not greater thanapproximately twice the pattern widths of the pocket cavities forconserving material of the strap member, and for facilitating access towrist straps that may be on the poles. A preferred overall length of theski seat for accommodating a usual range of user body types and sizes isbetween approximately 52 inches and approximately 58 inches.

[0008] In another aspect of the invention, a method for forming thepocket ski seat includes providing an elongate strap member; foldingopposite end portions of the strap member into facing relation torespective adjacent portions of the strap member; forming respectivelaterally spaced pairs of side seams for fixedly joining side extremityregions of the end portions to corresponding side extremity regions ofthe adjacent portions of the strap member to form respective pocketcavities between the end portions and the adjacent portions of the strapmember, the folds between the end portions and the adjacent portions ofthe strap member defining an overall length of the ski seat betweenapproximately 40 inches and approximately 70 inches in a flattenedcondition of the ski seat, and each pocket cavity having a pattern widthof not less than approximately 2.75 inches between the side seamsthereof and a pattern pocket length of not less than 1.25 times thepattern width between the corresponding fold and distal extremities ofthe corresponding side seams in the flattened condition; and reinforcingeach of the side seams proximate the distal extremity thereof, therebyforming the seat to receive end portions of the pole members to providesupportive engagement with the pole member end portions and loading thepole members in axial compression when the ski seat is tensioned bysupporting the user between the pole members.

DRAWINGS

[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skier seated on a portablepocket seat according to the present invention, the seat being slungbetween the skier's ski poles;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view as in FIG. 1, showing the ski polesin a crossed orientation;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the seat of FIG. 1 in a flattenedcondition;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of an end portion of the seatin the flattened condition of FIG. 3; and

[0014]FIG. 5 is a detail view as in FIG. 4, showing an alternativeconfiguration of the seat of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION

[0015] The present invention provides a novel portable seat forsuspension between poles, that is particularly strong, yet light inweight, inexpensive to provide, and comfortable to use. With referenceto FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, a portable seat 10 according to thepresent invention can be suspended between a pair of poles 11 forsupporting a seated user 12. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the user is a skierwearing skis 13 and the poles 11 are ski poles. The portable seat 10includes an elongate strap member 14, end portions 16 of which arefolded over as indicated at 18 in facing relation to adjacent portions19 of the strap 14, each of the end portions 16 being secured by alaterally spaced pair of side seams 20.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the strap 14 has a width W, the seat10 having an overall length L that is typically between 30 inches and 70inches as described below. The side seams 20 join respective sideextremity portions 22 of the end portions to corresponding sideextremity portions 24 of the adjacent portions 19 to form respectivepocket cavities 26 at opposite ends of the portable seat 10, the pocketcavities 26 each having a pattern pocket length l between thecorresponding fold 18 and distal extremities of the side seams 20, and apattern width w between the seams 20 in a flattened condition of theseat 10. The width W of the strap 14 is sufficient to allow the patternwidth w to be large enough for the pocket cavities 26 to receive theends of the poles 11. An exemplary pole end of circular cross-sectionhaving a diameter of 1.25 inches has a circumference of approximately 4inches. In order to receive this exemplary pole end, the pattern width wwould have to be at least 2 inches, but after allowance for a reasonablethickness of the strap member 14 and local flexure thereof at the seams20, the pattern width would have to be somewhat greater, approximately2.5 inches, for example, for the pocket cavity 26 to readily accept thepole end. In this example, further locating the side seams only 0.125inch from side extremities of the strap member 14 results in the strapwidth W being 2.75 inches, which is considered a practical minimum.Preferably, the strap width is somewhat greater, for permitting the sideseams 20 (and preferred reinforcements thereof as described below) toextend farther within the Width W, for accommodating poles having wrist7straps at the ends as are typical of ski poles, and allowing forsomewhat larger pole ends, as well as for providing enhanced comfort forthe seated user 12 by improved distribution of the supported load.Accordingly, a preferred strap width W is approximately 4 inches, acorresponding preferred pattern width w of the pocket cavities 26 is notless than approximately 2.75 inches, which allows for the side seams 20and any reinforcement thereof to extend up the 0.625 inch inwardly fromopposite sides of the strap member 14.

[0017] As further shown in FIG. 4, the side seams 20 are reinforcedproximate the distal ends thereof by multiple folded segments of thestitching as indicated at 30.

[0018] Additionally or in the alternative, and with further reference toFIG. 5, reinforcements in the form of respective rivets 30 are installedproximate the distal ends of the side seams 20.

[0019] The pocket lengths l are sufficiently great to insure that theends of the poles 11 remain engaged in the pocket cavities under thefull loading of the user 12. However, it is desired that the endportions 16 of the strap member not be excessively long, for permittinguse of wrist straps of the poles 11, if present, and for conservingmaterial of the strap member 14. It is believed that the required pocketlength l is also roughly proportional to the pattern width w of thepocket cavities 26, being preferably not less than 1.25 nor greater thanapproximately 2 times the width w. In the preferred configurationwherein the width W of the strap member 14 is 4 inches, the pocketlength l can be approximately 5.625 inches, which is within theabove-described preferred range. Based on the above, and inconsideration of an expected range of body types and sizes of the user12, a preferred range for the overall length L os the portable seat 10is from approximately 40 inches to approximately 70 inches, a morepreferred range being 52 inches to 58 inches, 55 inches being mostpreferred.

[0020] As indicated above, the material of the strap member 14 should berelatively stiff laterally for preventing gathering under load inregions thereof to be contacted by the user 12, yet relatively flexiblelongitudinally for facilitating folding at the end portions 16, andsufficiently strong in tension to withstand concentrated loading atpoints of contact with the ends of the poles 12. In consideration of theabove, single-ply woven strap material is particularly preferred, inthat woven construction provides a desired combination of strength,stiffness, and flexibility, the single-ply configuration (in contrast totubular configurations) imparting lateral stiffness for resistance togathering, and the woven side extremities, not being cut so as to haveexposed strand ends, is not subject to unraveling. A particularlysuitable material for the strap member 14 is commercially available as N7500 GN 4-inch Natural strap, from Atlas Sales and Marketing ofHuntington Beach, Calif., that material including NYLON, RAYON, andpolyester, and having a thickness of approximately 0.12 inch. Othermaterials, of course can be used, preferably including at least one ofthe components of the N 7500 GN material identified above.

[0021] Although the present invention has been described in considerabledetail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, otherversions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims should not necessarily be limited to the description of thepreferred versions contained herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pocket ski seat for use in concert with a pairof pole members for supporting a user, comprising: (a) an elongate strapmember; (b) opposite end portions of the strap member being folded intofacing relation to respective adjacent portions of the strap member; (c)respective laterally spaced pairs of side seams fixedly joining sideextremity regions of the end portions to corresponding side extremityregions of the adjacent portions of the strap member to form respectivepocket cavities between the end portions and the adjacent portions ofthe strap member, respective folds between the end portions and theadjacent portions of the strap member defining an overall length of theski seat in a flattened condition thereof, and each pocket cavity havinga pattern width between the side seams thereof and a pattern pocketlength between the corresponding fold and distal extremities of thecorresponding side seams in the flattened condition; and (d) the pocketwidths being not less than 2.5 inches for receiving end portions of thepole members having respective outside circumferences of not more thanapproximately 4.75 inches, the pattern pocket lengths being not lessthan 1.25 times the respective pocket widths for providing supportiveengagement with the pole member end portions effective to load the polemembers in axial compression when the ski seat is tensioned bysupporting the user between the pole members, and the overall length isbetween approximately 40 inches and approximately 70 inches forsupporting a normal size range of users on poles of appropriate lengthfor use as ski poles.
 2. The pocket ski seat of claim 1, wherein thestrap member has an overall width of not less than 3 inches in theflattened condition.
 3. The pocket ski seat of claim 2, wherein thestrap member is of uniform width.
 4. The pocket ski seat of claim 3,wherein the uniform overall width of the strap member is approximately 4inches, and the pocket widths are not less than approximately 2.75inches.
 5. The pocket ski seat of claim 1, wherein the strap member isformed of a woven material.
 6. The pocket ski seat of claim 5, whereinthe woven material of the strap member is woven to define a uniformwidth of the strap member.
 7. The pocket ski seat of claim 6, whereinthe woven material of the strap member comprises at least one materialselected from the group consisting of NYLON, RAYON, and polyester. 8.The pocket ski seat of claim 1, wherein the side seams comprisestitching.
 9. The pocket ski seat of claim 1, wherein the side seams arereinforced proximate the distal extremities thereof.
 10. The pocket skiseat of claim 9, wherein the side seams comprise stitching and thereinforcing comprises multiple folded segments of the stitching.
 11. Thepocket ski seat of claim 9, wherein the reinforcing comprises aninstalled rivet projecting through the side extremity portions of theend and adjacent portions of the strap member proximate the distalextremity of each of the side seams.
 12. The pocket ski seat of claim 1,wherein the pattern pocket lengths are not greater than approximatelytwice the pattern widths of the pocket cavities.
 13. pocket ski seat ofclaim 1, wherein the overall length of the ski seat is approximately 55inches.
 14. A pocket ski seat comprising: (a) an elongate strap memberwoven to a uniform width of approximately 4 inches; (b) opposite endportions of the strap member being folded into facing relation torespective adjacent portions of the strap member; (c) respectivelaterally spaced pairs of stitched side seams fixedly joining sideextremity regions of the end portions to corresponding side extremityregions of the adjacent portions of the strap member to form respectivepocket cavities between the end portions and the adjacent portions ofthe strap member, respective folds between the end portions and theadjacent portions of the strap member defining an overall length of theski seat in a flattened condition thereof, and each pocket cavity havinga pattern width between the side seams thereof and a pattern pocketlength between the corresponding fold and distal extremities of thecorresponding side seams in the flattened condition, each of the sideseams being reinforced proximate the distal extremity thereof; and (d)the pocket widths being not less than approximately 2.75 inches forreceiving end portions of the pole members having respective outsidecircumferences of not more than approximately 5 inches, the patternpocket lengths being not less than 1.25 times the respective pocketwidths for providing supportive engagement with the pole member endportions effective to load the pole members in axial compression whenthe ski seat is tensioned by supporting the user between the polemembers, and the overall length is between approximately 40 inches andapproximately 70 inches for supporting a normal size range of users onpoles of appropriate length for use as ski poles.
 15. The pocket skiseat of claim 13, wherein the reinforcing comprises multiple foldedsegments of the stitching.
 16. The pocket ski seat of claim 13, whereinthe overall length of the ski seat is between approximately 52 inchesand approximately 55 inches.
 17. A method for forming a pocket ski seatfor use with a pair of pole members, comprising: (a) providing anelongate strap member; (b) folding opposite end portions of the strapmember into facing relation to respective adjacent portions of the strapmember; (c) forming respective laterally spaced pairs of side seams forfixedly joining side extremity regions of the end portions tocorresponding side extremity regions of the adjacent portions of thestrap member to form respective pocket cavities between the end portionsand the adjacent portions of the strap member, the folds between the endportions and the adjacent portions of the strap member defining anoverall length of the ski seat between approximately 40 inches andapproximately 70 inches in a flattened condition of the ski seat, andeach pocket cavity having a pattern width of not less than approximately2.75 inches between the side seams thereof and a pattern pocket lengthof not less than 1.25 times the pattern width between the correspondingfold and distal extremities of the corresponding side seams in theflattened condition; and (d) reinforced each of the side seams proximatethe distal extremity thereof, thereby forming the seat to receive endportions of the pole members to provide supportive engagement with thepole member end portions and loading the pole members in the axialcompression when the ski seat is tensioned by supporting the userbetween the pole members.